Note 10 — Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets consisted of:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Weighted Average Amortization Period (Years) | | September 30, 2025 | | September 30, 2024 |
| Amortized intangible assets | | | | | |
| Patents – gross | 10.6 | | $ | 10.8 | | | $ | 10.8 | |
| Less: accumulated amortization | | | (5.7) | | | (5.1) | |
| Patents – net | | | $ | 5.1 | | | $ | 5.7 | |
| Customer Relationships and Other – gross | 3.8 | | $ | 5.3 | | | $ | 5.2 | |
| Less: accumulated amortization | | | (3.4) | | | (2.8) | |
| Customer Relationships and Other – net | | | $ | 1.9 | | | $ | 2.4 | |
| Total amortized intangible assets | | | $ | 7.0 | | | $ | 8.1 | |
| Goodwill | | | 15.4 | | | 15.6 | |
| Total Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets | | | $ | 22.4 | | | $ | 23.7 | |
Intangible asset amortization expense was $1.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2025, $1.1 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2024 and $1.2 million for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2023, respectively. The estimated intangible asset amortization expense for the next five fiscal years and thereafter is as follows:
| | | | | |
| 2026 | $ | 1.1 | |
| 2027 | 1.1 | |
| 2028 | 1.1 | |
| 2029 | 1.0 | |
| 2030 | 0.4 | |
| Thereafter | 2.3 | |
About Goodwill & Intangibles Disclosures
Goodwill and intangible asset disclosures reveal the premium paid in acquisitions and how management assesses whether that premium retains its value. Since goodwill is no longer amortized under US GAAP, the annual impairment test is the only mechanism that adjusts carrying values downward — making the assumptions behind that test critically important for investors.
Key signals: a history of goodwill impairments suggests management consistently overpays for acquisitions. Watch the gap between reporting unit fair value and carrying amount — when fair value exceeds carrying amount by less than 10-20%, a small decline in business performance could trigger a write-down. For finite-lived intangibles, examine useful life assumptions across customer relationships, technology, and trade names; aggressive estimates inflate near-term earnings. Compare total intangibles-to-total-assets ratios against peers to assess acquisition dependency. Rising goodwill as a percentage of equity can signal balance sheet fragility.